'MAGA Civil War' erupts as Florida Trump ally rejects Tate brothers accused of sex crimes

Some of Donald Trump's most devoted followers are outraged that his administration might have played a role in getting right-wing influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate released from custody in Romania, where they were under investigation for human trafficking.

The British American brothers boarded a private jet early Thursday in Romania and landed hours later at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport shortly after 11 a.m. local time, but Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced they were not welcome to remain in the state.

"Florida is not a place where you're welcome with that type of conduct," DeSantis said.

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The Tate brothers had been awaiting trial in Romania after they were charged with human trafficking and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women, but it's not clear why a court there had ruled they could leave the country.

Romanian officials denied the Trump administration had pressured them to allow the Tates to leave, while the State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment, but U.S. special envoy Richard Grenell reportedly urged the country's foreign minister to lift their travel restrictions during the Munich Security Conference.

The pair are obligated to return later this year as long as they remain under "judicial control" of the Romanian special prosecutor's service, which is still investigating sex trafficking and money laundering allegations against them, and their lawyer Joseph McBride called on DeSantis to step down over his remarks.

"Andrew & Tristan Tate are American Citizens," McBride posted on X. "They are also the Plaintiffs and victims in a very public defamation lawsuit litigated in Palm Beach Court. Trump-hating @RonDeSantis has disgraced himself by stating that @Cobratate & @TateTheTalisman are not welcome in Florida!"

Other MAGA influencers agreed and trained their sights on the Florida Republican governor.

"The Tate brothers are US citizens," posted right-wing influencer Laura Loomer. "Good thing Ron isn’t President."

"Ron feels emasculated by Andrew and Tristan Tate," said Valentina Gomez, a failed GOP candidate for Missouri secretary of state now running for Congress in Texas. "All successful men face allegations by gold diggers who just want money. Trump, Pete Hegseth, Conor McGregor have all gotten outrageous allegations against them."

"Ron DeSantis is a f------ moron, and he still has the dumbest f---- working for him," added MAGA influencer Joseph Pino. "I don’t like the Tate brothers, but Ron has zero jurisdiction. The stupidest press conference I’ve ever seen."

"Ron Desantis is a pathetic loser," said self-described "Jan. 6 survivor" Philip Anderson. "I’m very glad that Trump won."

However, many conservatives were confused by the administration's alleged involvement and sided with DeSantis against the Tates.

"The way conservatives and conservative organizations respond to Andrew Tate arriving on US soil will tell you everything you need to know about them," said Daily Wire CEO Jeremy Boreing. "Any organization or host who embraces him is engaged in far worse than simple grift, though it is that. Andrew Tate is the enemy of any traditional American conservatism."

"America does not need more self-proclaimed pimps and terror supporters with outstanding criminal allegations of sex trafficking and a history of pornographic distribution, plus a grift 'university' that suckers young men out of thousands of dollars," posted Daily Wire co-founder Ben Shapiro.

"We should wait and see," said talk radio host Erick Erickson, "but I can say that if Trump really did bless allowing the Tate brothers to come to the US, it would be the primary exhibit that his administration is guided by a hyper-online right that is very out of touch with the real world and needs to touch grass."

"I voted for an administration that would stop human trafficking at our borders," complained podcast host Abby Libby. "I voted to get rapists and pedophiles off the streets. Trump's action in freeing the Tate brothers was a stunning betrayal of his mandate."

"Yes. Andrew Tate is a litmus test," added conservative writer Jonathan Van Maren, in response to Boreing. "If you support him, you support a pimp, pornographer, and woman-beater. Tate admits that, by the way, he just says the violence was consensual and he gets off on beating women. If you consider that a legitimate defense, we have nothing in common. If you are willing to defend Andrew Tate, you are every bit as infected by the 'woke mind virus' as the craziest leftist. You have become what you hate. You are willing to defend the indefensible. Championing a vile man because it somehow 'owns the libs' is, in fact, the equivalent of repeatedly kicking yourself where it hurts but being totally convinced that you're striking a blow against the 'other side.' When it comes to violence against women and sexual exploitation, here should be only one side. Make sure you're on it. If you're not, you're an arsonist, not a firefighter."

Anti-Trump conservatives, on the other hand, were happy sit back and pass the popcorn.

"A MAGA Civil War over DeSantis locking up the Tates for being human traffickers would be the funniest possible outcome of all this," said Sonny Bunch, culture editor for The Bulwark.

"Florida under DeSantis has become a haven for sex offenders like the Tates and Donald Trump," added Jeff Timmer, of the Lincoln Project.